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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Debbie Dunkley on January 11, 2019, 02:39:01 PM
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Chris and I are going to be in the UK first week of february to visit a family member.
We'd like to look at some gear whilst there if we get the chance. We will be based in Devon but we fly into and out of Heathrow.
To my UK friends - what music stores (pro audio/ bass) are worth a look at these days that won't be too far a drive for us??
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Debbie, are you familiar with this forum:
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/
It might be worth your time to post there, especially if you mention Devon, there might be some locals to steer you to good shops and perhaps live music venues.
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To my UK friends - what music stores (pro audio/ bass) are worth a look at these days that won't be too far a drive for us??
Sadly, I have to confess that it's 100% online for me these days.
I remember when a trip to Denmark Street in London was a muso's delight. Went there about 10 years ago and realised how limited bricks & morter stores were - with little high end choice and small stock ranges.
That said, places to consider - albeit that I haven't been to any of them in donkeys' years:
dv247 (formerly Digital Village) in Romford
GAK in Brighton
Andertons in Guildford
Hope you have a lovely time on your trip...
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Wembley PA centre
https://www.wembleymusiccentre.com/
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I think you will be a little disappointed with shop offerings. Even those with a large online presence tend to have smaller shop spaces and limited stock on display, often of the obvious Yamaha, EV and lower stuff like Alto. The market here, doesn’t support people at your (serious bar band, I hope I’m not selling you short), as the majority of bar band work here is sub £500 bang for the buck boxes. Anything above this is getting to be serious local band level and local pa supplies where you can get demo’s, but you will have to travel or arrange with a distributer to get a listen.
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Agreed about the shops, but there’s a production company called Stage Electrics in Bristol which is closer to Devon than the others listed.
https://m.stage-electrics.co.uk/about-us/contact/
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There is also Absolute Music in Poole that have a large shop out on one of the retail parks but might be too much of a detour unless you are East Devon (i.e. Honiton/Seaton area) where it would be ~2h drive, although there would be many nice places to stop off on the way.
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Debbie, are you familiar with this forum:
http://www.blue-room.org.uk/
It might be worth your time to post there, especially if you mention Devon, there might be some locals to steer you to good shops and perhaps live music venues.
If you post on Blue Room, be sure to mention you're an ex-pat Brit, or you will be roundly ignored. They don't acknowledge The Colonies.
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Maybe search out some live music and pass on the music stores.
JR
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Do you still speak the language? ::)
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Do you still speak the language? ::)
I think the real test of how ex-Brit she is if she has sausage gravy or tea with her biscuits.
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Thanks all!!
It sounds like there are few brick and mortar options left out there - just like over here - not surprising.
I'll check out the blue room for sure.
I'll be staying in Abbotskerswell closer to Exeter for the duration of that helps with location.
A few years ago I would have LOVED sausage gravy - but I no longer eat meat so that's off my to do list these days.
However, what other way is there to drink tea than with biscuits??
Speak the language? Nah - not really anymore. I now have this weird hybrid accent and use 95% Americanisms in my every day speech so no-one wants to claim me as one of theirs anymore ...... :(
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Ameri-glish? ???
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Thanks all!!
It sounds like there are few brick and mortar options left out there - just like over here - not surprising.
I'll check out the blue room for sure.
I'll be staying in Abbotskerswell closer to Exeter for the duration of that helps with location.
A few years ago I would have LOVED sausage gravy - but I no longer eat meat so that's off my to do list these days.
However, what other way is there to drink tea than with biscuits??
Speak the language? Nah - not really anymore. I now have this weird hybrid accent and use 95% Americanisms in my every day speech so no-one wants to claim me as one of theirs anymore ...... :(
We'll claim you, Debbie.
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Ameri-glish? ???
Yes - kinda.
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We'll claim you, Debbie.
Why thanks Tim.... :)
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I think the real test of how ex-Brit she is if she has sausage gravy or tea with her biscuits.
BTW - I pickle my own pickled onions, I eat Marmite on toast every morning, I put Branston on my cheese sandwiches, I drink Yorkshire gold with milk and sugar and I still drive a stick - does that count??
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BTW - I pickle my own pickled onions, I eat Marmite on toast every morning, I put Branston on my cheese sandwiches, I drink Yorkshire gold with milk and sugar and I still drive a stick - does that count??
Gotta love a woman that still knows what that pesky third pedal is all about! Ah, but can you heel and toe around Brands Hatch?
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Maybe search out some live music and pass on the music stores.
JR
Ditto that. I worked in and around London on and off for a bit and while the live music scene was OK - from a music technology stand point is was like set your watch back 10 years... the average GC here was a better experience and I never, ever visit GC unless it is a string based emergency...
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Ditto that. I worked in and around London on and off for a bit and while the live music scene was OK - from a music technology stand point is was like set your watch back 10 years... the average GC here was a better experience and I never, ever visit GC unless it is a string based emergency...
Yup I visited UK music stores with my sales rep back last century and it was not awe inspiring back then. I doubt it has improved since then.
The UK beer was better(even bitter is good, but I like stouts).
JR
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Gotta love a woman that still knows what that pesky third pedal is all about! Ah, but can you heel and toe around Brands Hatch?
Well maybe not but I NEVER roll back on a steep hill start!
Oh .... disclaimer - I was a driving instructor for The British School of Motoring back in the day...
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Ditto that. I worked in and around London on and off for a bit and while the live music scene was OK - from a music technology stand point is was like set your watch back 10 years... the average GC here was a better experience and I never, ever visit GC unless it is a string based emergency...
Maybe I'll do that - just go see a couple of local bands.
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Yup I visited UK music stores with my sales rep back last century and it was not awe inspiring back then. I doubt it has improved since then.
The UK beer was better(even bitter is good, but I like stouts).
JR
I am considered an embarrassment to my British friends when it comes to beer. I used to enjoy cider and lager but these days I am happy with a Miller Light or similar.... yeah I know....
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I am considered an embarrassment to my British friends when it comes to beer. I used to enjoy cider and lager but these days I am happy with a Miller Light or similar.... yeah I know....
A Lager lout?
I brewed two batches of hard cider this holiday season... hard to find apple cider without chemical preservatives but it makes good drinking when you do (I use beer yeast). I have a few in the refrigerator for later. 8)
JR
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As you will be near Exeter, a trip to Mansons would be good. Hugh Manson, who founded the store, builds Matt Bellamy's guitars (of Muse fame). There is a PMT store in Bristol, but to be honest, it is not worth the trip for all the reasons previously stated.
If you came a bit further up country, to a place called Stonehouse, Nr Stroud in Gloucestershire, there is World Guitars. This is all high end guitars and boutique amps. It is based in an old courthouse and is amazing to visit. Nothing there I can afford, but I still enjoy dreaming!!
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys. We will try to fit in as much as we can. In fact we want to distract my sister as much as possible whilst there and could take her to a couple of stores - she loves to visit new places and part of the fun will be the drive.
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I see the AR2412 is cheaper there than here especially when the VAT is refunded. Maybe I could pick one up there?
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A Lager lout?
I brewed two batches of hard cider this holiday season... hard to find apple cider without chemical preservatives but it makes good drinking when you do (I use beer yeast). I have a few in the refrigerator for later. 8)
JR
Ooooh..... I do enjoy a good cider (hard cider out here). The first time someone offered me cider when I moved here, I was very disappointed to be given apple juice...
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I had been reading about the low price of the AR2412 in the UK compared to the USA. In fact out there I see the AB168 is around the same price as the AR2412 - sometimes more. So I contacted a store in Bournemouth. Really helpful guy there and it looks like a GC type store so lots to look at I hope.
He gave me the breakdown on the cost of a AR2412. The store is only 1-1/2 hours away from Newton Abbot so worth the trip. Once the VAT is deducted, and the exchange rate applied, it works out at a few hundred less than over here so it is an interesting option for me to save some money.
The power is universal so no worries there.
We can bring it back as carry on. Has anyone been through the VAT refund process lately?
Years ago at the airport it was a miserable experience waiting in line - having to unbox the item for inspection etc. Does anyone see any problem making the purchase in the UK other than warranty/service issues???
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The store is only 1-1/2 hours away from Newton Abbot.
You can double that to ~2 1/2 hours from Newton Abbot (assuming going the quickest route of A38-M5-A30-A35) and if there is traffic in Poole you can extend that even further quite easily, as you may be aware the roads around Dorset are not the best so can slow things down a bit.
If you did want to make it more of a scenic trip then the coast road through Newton Poppleford, Colyford and Lyme Regis is interesting (follow signs off the M5 before you hit the A30), esp. if you have to wait for one of the trams when going through Colyford.
And just an F.Y.I. if you need fuel then the petrol station at Trago Mills Newton Abbot is always cheap and significantly cheaper that any services (despite being literally just off the A38) or you have Tesco in Dorchester (again less than 1 mile off the main road).
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Just got back last night. Due to the attention we needed to pay to my sister-in-law that she so desperately needed from us, we had very little time to ourselves which I do not regret one bit BUT we didn't get the chance to visit any music stores in the end.
Got our fill of all the good stuff we grew up with though - Chip shop Fish 'n' chips, crumpets, lean bacon (not me - Chris), excellent curry, the best chocolate and fudge, great beer and scrumpy cider etc etc.
Now to lose the 5 lbs I put on whilst there....darn!
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Good to have you back.
Don't worry, at the current exchange rate, that's only $3.85. :o
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Good to have you back.
Don't worry, at the current exchange rate, that's only $3.85. :o
;D